Two Democrats Advance To A Special Election Runoff For A Deep-blue Texas House Seat

Democrats Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards precocious to a runoff successful a typical legislature predetermination successful Texas, NBC News projects, arsenic a crowded section vied to capable nan precocious Rep. Sylvester Turner’s deep-blue seat.

The title saw 16 candidates, including 7 Democrats, 5 Republicans, 3 independents and 1 Green Party member, look disconnected successful a heavy Democratic territory that includes downtown Houston and parts of surrounding Harris County.

Follow nan predetermination unrecorded here

Menefee is nan region lawyer for Harris County, becoming nan first Black personification to clasp that agency aft unseating three-term incumbent Vince Ryan. Edwards is an lawyer and nonprofit laminitis who served connected nan Houston City Council for 4 years.

There was nary superior predetermination to find each party’s apical picks: Instead, each campaigner appeared connected nan aforesaid ballot, pinch nan 2 candidates pinch nan astir votes advancing to a runoff if nary 1 sewage a majority.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has yet to group a day for nan runoff election, which is expected to return spot successful January.

The 18th District has had a Black typical for much than 50 years, starting pinch Barbara Jordan successful 1973, mostly arsenic a consequence of nan Voting Rights Act and 1972 redistricting that empowered Black voters.

Turner, nan erstwhile Houston politician who died successful March, 2 months aft being elected to correspond nan district, won nan spot successful November by much than 20 points. The precocious Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, besides a Democrat, held nan spot for almost 10 years until her decease successful July 2024, aft winning her party’s superior for reelection.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., threatened successful April to sue Abbott for delaying Tuesday’s election. Five days later, Abbott set a date. The spot has been vacant for 8 months, and nan runoff victor will service nan remainder of Turner’s term, ending successful January 2027.